Wedding Bell Blues Pt. 07

The disclaimers: Every character who matters is at least 18. A work of fiction (more or less). Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental (for the most part).

Part 7 picks up on Friday morning. This installment features more yachting fun in and out of doors, and a long overdue talk between Tom and Hayleigh, along with setting some boundaries and ground rules.

So sorry for the delay in publishing these next chapters. Too late I realized that I had written myself into an unacceptable corner, and that I would have to do a fair bit of reworking to fix my mess. And then real life and the need to keep my job intruded on my rewriting and editing time. And then I think I messed up and didn't properly submit it, so it sat in Drafts for four days! Fear not, I will finish this series, if for no one else's sake but my own. Thanks for your patience.

~~~@~~~@~~~

~~~ THURSDAY EVENING ~~~

I didn't have to wait until morning. I awoke around 4:00 a. m., still spooning. It took me a few moments to realize that she had my growing cock in her hand, and she was rubbing my helmet through her folds. She eased the first inches inside, then wiggled her hips until I was all the way in. Me moved together silently until I felt her pussy spasming, bringing me to my own climax. Instead of uncoupling, she pushed herself back into me, and brought me free hand up to her chest to rest in the valley between her tits. That's the last thing I remembered, until I awoke with the sun blazing into our stateroom through the window.

~~~@~~~@~~~

~~~ FRIDAY ~~~

When I woke up I was still spooning Hayleigh. I'm not sure whether it was Hayleigh stirring against me, or the sound of the couple in the adjoining stateroom bouncing the headboard against the wall that woke me. Not sure of the geometry, either, but I think it was Carlos and Rosalinda. Our neighbors got louder. Definitely Rosa!

Hayleigh wiggled her tush into my groin. My nose was buried in the nape of her neck, her blonde hair haphazardly splayed around my face. "Sorry I fell asleep on you last night," she said as she arched her back to stretch. "I was more zonked than I thought."

"I think you more than made up for it."

"Oh, that?" she said as if I had mentioned a mere trifle. "Someone once told me that he wanted to have a middle-of-the-night quickie and then fall back asleep. Seemed like a perfect opportunity."

"Maybe we could do it again sometime."

"Maybe. Only three nights left before we go home," she mused, "One of us had better set an alarm." She craned her head around and kissed my chin. At about the same time we heard Rosa and Carlos hitting their stride, causing Hayleigh to nod toward the bordering wall. "Give you any ideas?" Only minutes later we were challenging Carlos and Rosa for the Ruby Scepter's headboard-banging trophy. Hayleigh and I were going at it in venerable missionary. She suddenly wrapped her legs around my waist and crossed her ankles, followed by her trademark growl before she got squishy. I was right behind her.

Instead of disengaging, I asked her if I could stay inside for a bit longer. I didn't want to break our physical connection. The Bible verse about becoming "one flesh" flashed through my mind. For the first time I appreciated that Genesis wasn't just referring to the physical coupling; it meant joining with Hayleigh emotionally and spiritually, too. That level of bonding was at best an abstraction with Jennifer. With Hayleigh it felt real to my core. I craved it.

"Of course you can," she said as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my head to rest alongside hers. I silently took in the sensations of our closeness, mostly the feeling of her warm breathing registering in my ear. My erection soon shrank and slipped out, but we continued to hold each other. I finally disengaged and rolled off her, silently taking it all in.

"Tom, is everything OK?" she asked with a tinge of concern. "Did you want to go again?"

"Everything is great, Hay. Beyond great. I didn't want to break our connection. It's hard to explain."

She eyed me warily. "But you'd tell me if there was something bothering you, right?"

"I would. I was having a moment, and I didn't want it to end yet. Trust me?"

"Always." She lumbered out of our bed and padded to the head, grabbing my hand to tug me along with her. "I'm going to do a quick washcloth cleanup so we can get to breakfast. Seems I'm always hungry for something around you!'

I joined her for a quick shave and cleanup, and we threw on casual clothes. By pure coincidence we exited our stateroom to go up on deck for breakfast at the same time Carlos and Rosa exited theirs. The ladies gave each other embarrassed looks and turned five shades of red before busting out laughing. By silent agreement and for mutual self-preservation, Carlos and I didn't say damn thing.

We sat with Carlos, Rosa, Kellie, and Brian. Breakfast featured crepes, fresh fruit, and champagne. Most everyone decided afterward that the calm morning seas made it a perfect morning for ocean swimming and jet bike water-skiing, so we headed back to our stateroom to change into swimsuits. I mentioned to Hayleigh that I was finally going to see that naughty new swimsuit she bought. She surprised me again.

"About that," she said pensively, "I don't think I'm going to wear it."

"Not brave enough after all, eh?" I taunted.

"It's mostly that," she began. "but something else, too. Nothing bad though, promise. I'll explain later. Trust me?"

"Always."

She changed into the red one-piece that she wore on the beach a few days earlier, and we headed to the main deck to rejoin the others. Between the swimming and water-skiing the morning flew by. After lunch there was more of the same, until the women decided to get all-over tans on the flybridge, out of sight of male eyes. The word came down from Tahj that it was No Boys Allowed. That left we boys to engage in the manly pursuits of fishing, drinking, sports talk, and bullshitting. Things were fine until Mike the Arsehole walked up, towering over me as I was sitting with Carlos, Tim, and Brian.

"Can I have a minute?" he asked politely.

What's this now? I was in no mood for more BS. "Sure. Do you want to talk privately?" I did my best not sound confrontational, but Carlos nonetheless readied himself to spring out of his chair.

"Here is better. I'd like to apologize. I've been a real jackass. I disrespected you and your girlfriend, I was insulting, and over all I've been a real dick. I'm very sorry."

Not at all what I was expecting. I was caught off-guard. Even if not sincere, this was a good development. "Apology accepted, Mike. But to be frank, it's Hayleigh who deserves an apology."

"I know. Would tonight be OK? I'd do it now, but Tahj advised that the flybridge is ladies only, and I'm in enough trouble as it is." He said it with a slight smile, trying to keep it amicable with self-deprecating humor. Worked for me.

"Yeah, that might cause a ruckus. Grab a seat," I offered as I motioned to the chair next to me. "They're discussing whether BMWs or Porsches are more expensive to maintain, a topic I know absolutely nothing about."

Mike the Former Arsehole took a chair, and ruefully explained that nothing could vampire your wallet faster than a second-hand Ferrari. The more they talked and exchanged anecdotal car repair horror stories, the more fond I became of my boring but trusty Subaru. Wisconsin winters are tough teachers, and give hard lessons. The afternoon moved along with more ocean swimming and waterskiing, until about 5 p. m., when everyone headed off to clean up and get dressed for dinner. It was black tie that evening. I couldn't wait to see Hayleigh in her new gown.

Hayleigh and I showered together, which naturally led to smooching between the shampooing and attending to nooks and crannies. Hayleigh helped me get dressed in my new suit, and then politely invited me to step out while she dressed. Like the last time I was banished, the unveiling was worth the nearly hour-long wait. The new gown was deep burgundy chiffon, sleeveless, with a moderate V-neck and an offset ruffled shoulder. It gathered tightly at Hayleigh's waist and then flowed firmly over her hips and flared out to the floor. Moderate 3-inch heels gave her added height. She went with simple for the hairstyle. It was much like Meg Ryan's doo at the end of Sleepless in Seattle, but more intricate and curled. I suppose you know by now she was stunning, but the word didn't do justice to the overall effect.

"Worth the wait?" she asked as she twirled, causing the bottom of the gown to flare out and swirl around her legs. I couldn't resist teasing her, just a little bit.

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible! But I think you're missing something."

That threw her. I enjoyed surprising her for a change. I went to my garment bag and retrieved the gift-wrapped box for the pendant that I'd squirreled away in a hidden pocket. "Perhaps this," I said as I handed her the box.

I had been worried that Hayleigh might have discovered the box while picking out some clothes for me, but her expression told me I'd achieved complete surprise. She carefully unwrapped it; I think she wanted to save the wrapping paper and silk ribbon in pristine condition, somewhat like having the sorority dance corsage pressed. Her eyes went wide when she lifted by lid.

"Tom, this is... it's beautiful! But I can't accept a gift like this, it's too much!"

"Of course you can accept it. It's only a small token of my affection, and of our friendship. I'm more than fond of you. You know that, don't you?"

She teared up before giving in. "Help me with this?" she asked as she turned her back to me and lifted her thick hair from around her neck. I had made a good guess on the length of the chain; the pendant naturally rested at an eye-pleasing spot on her bare chest just above the top edge of her new gown. She admired it in the full-length mirror hanging on the inside cabin door.

"It matches my eyes perfectly! I will cherish this forever! Does it make me a bad person if I can't wait to show off?"

"Of course not. That's part of the fun!"

She dabbed at her eyes with tissue. "Sorry, you know how leaky I get when I'm emotional, which has been almost this entire week."

"No apologies! It was worth it just to see your face when you opened the box." I took her hands in mine. "Making you happy makes me happy. Now let's get upstairs and mingle, and we'll see if Tahj will take a few pics with our phones. Danni will go crazy when she sees you in that dress!"

Hayleigh gave me a hug that nearly squeezed the life out of me before taking a parting glance in the full-length mirror. We were about to leave our stateroom when I remembered about Mike. I told her about Mike's apology to me, and that he wanted to apologize to her, too.

"Thanks for letting me know. FYI, from what Christine said while we were sunbathing, their marriage is hanging by a thread, and she made sure he knows it. She still loves him though, so for her sake I'm going to make it as easy on him as I can. That OK?"

"You bet. I don't want anything to put a damper on tonight."

We joined Carlos, Rosa, Brian, and Kellie for cocktails before dinner. Kellie's eyes zeroed in on Hayleigh's pendant before we sat down. Kellie gushed, and then Rosa joined in. Soon they had Hayleigh's cell phone and were taking seemingly endless pics. Some of them even included me. Before long everyone was in on it, taking couples pics, group pics, candid shots, etc.

Tahj came around to get cocktail orders before dinner was served. Hayleigh went with her standby Whiskey Sour, but unlike the previous evening, Rosa asked for a flavored sparkling water.

"Nothing to drink tonight, Rosa? Are you feeling OK?" asked Carlos.

"We're feeling fine." Carlos's confusion was obvious. Rosa leaned over to him, whispering. "Estoy embarazada, mi amor." Rosa reached into her clutch purse and pulled out a home pregnancy test kit. The blue cross was unmistakable.

Carlos was momentarily stunned. "But how... how did it happen?" he sputtered.

Brian couldn't resist the lay-up. "Well, Carlos," he intoned, "when a man and a woman love each other, sometimes they show their love physically, and--" Kellie stifled a laugh and playfully punched him in the arm. "Men!"

Carlos collected himself and embraced Rosa with the biggest smile I've ever seen on a man. I think he had tears in his eyes. In no time flat the women were fawning over Rosa and the men were congratulating Carlos with handshakes and back claps. It was like scene from an old black & white movie. The only thing missing was Carlos handing out cigars. My attention was drawn to Hayleigh and Kellie, who looked so happy for Rosa that one could be forgiven for thinking it was their own announcement. I pondered if there was a universe where Hayleigh would be giving me that news, and if she'd be as good a mother as my own has been to me and Danni. I returned to congratulating Carlos when I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Hayleigh eyeing me. Her head was oddly tilted, clearly in contemplation. I'd ask her about it later.

The hubbub had mostly died down when Christine and Mike made their way over to join in congratulating Rosa and Carlos. Congratulations made, Mike took the opportunity to beckon Hayleigh and me over to an adjoining table, where he sat with Christine.

"I didn't want to steal their moment," he began, nodding in Carlos and Rosa's direction, "but I shouldn't wait any longer to say this." He looked at Hayleigh sheepishly as he continued. "I was a Class-A jackass to you yesterday. I was disrespectful to you, to Tom here, and to my wife. I regret how I behaved, and I am deeply sorry that I upset you. I hope that you'll accept my apology."

"Thank you for that," Hayleigh replied gently. "Of course I accept your apology." She gave Christine a quick glance. "Why don't you and Christine sit near us at dinner tonight? We haven't had much chance to get to know each other, and it's our last evening."

"We'd love to!" Christine said before Mike could answer. "By the way, Hayleigh, that's a beautiful pendant! It so complements your eyes!"

"Thank you!" bubbled Hayleigh. "I just got it tonight. It's a gift from this silly guy," she said as she tilted her head at me, then leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"That's quite a gift," Christine remarked. "You must really like her!"

"She's my best friend," I said simply. Hayleigh gave me a knowing smile and squeezed my hand. I think there was a hint of jealousy in Christine's face. Whatever Mike and Christine were, they weren't best friends.

"Well, thank you for hearing me out," Mike said. "We look forward to chatting with you at dinner." They politely excused themselves and rejoined the rest of the group to fawn over Rosa.

"I think that went well," I remarked. "By the way, you were giving me a funny look before when you and Kellie were with Rosa. Did I say something dumb again?"

Hayleigh was searching her thoughts trying to remember what I was talking about. Then it came to her. "Oh, that," she said off-handedly. "I was wondering what kind of father you'd be."

I was dumbstruck. "OK, now that's just weird. At that same time I was wondering what kind of mother you'd be!"

"We better stop thinking like that," Hayleigh said through her laughter. "My mother's paranoid ESP will pick up our thoughts about being parents and she'll have a massive freak-out!" We looked at each other and doubled over laughing.

About then Tahj appeared to announce that dinner was served. We made our way to the table, and arranged to sit near Mike and Christine, with Carlos and Rosa close by, too. It was an enjoyable meal. The main courses were a braised salmon or something I'd never seen before, a smoked prime rib done with a Caribbean dry rub. Hayleigh got the salmon and I got the rib, and we shared. Sides included Calypso rice and Cassava salad. Hayleigh was right; we were going to gain ten pounds minimum. Dessert choices included Belizean Fudge and a killer Key Lime Cream Pie. Maybe fifteen pounds would be a closer guess. Mike went out of his way to be the perfect gentleman with Hayleigh, so I was relieved that fences appeared to be mended. Oddly, I found myself pulling for Mike to rescue his marriage. He was a decent guy when he wanted to be.

As we finished our desserts a small tender pulled alongside the Ruby Scepter to deliver the live band and offload their equipment. By the looks of the gear, it was an eight-member horn-based group. Tenor and alto saxes, trombone, trumpet, drums, keyboards, string bass, and guitar. Carlos, Rosa, Hayleigh and I decided to stay on the main deck and enjoy the sunset before heading back to our staterooms to freshen up before the dancing.

Hayleigh and Rosa renewed their chatter about balancing a nursing career and a family. When that topic petered out it gave Carlos an opportunity to venture into uncertain waters.

"So, Tomas," asked Carlos, "You are not married, and not engaged?" He was curious, not critical.

Hayleigh stepped in quickly. "That's right, this is a vacation trip before Tom goes to law school in a few months."

"And you will go with him, to the law school?" asked Rosa. She justifiably thought that we were a full-fledged couple, as did everyone else. Hayleigh deflected.

"No," Hayleigh explained, "I have a year left before I graduate from college. Tom will be in Chicago, and I will be in Madison."

"These are not in the same place?" asked Rosa.

"No," Hayleigh replied, calculating in her head. "They're about 250 kilometers apart. It's only a few hours trip by car, counting the traffic."

Carlos leaned back in his chair, speaking directly to me. "Then you will excuse me for saying, Tomas, but you are a fool."

Carlos intended no insult. "Never has been much of a question about that!" I replied with a smile. "What am I a fool about this time? I have trouble keeping track."

"You and Hayleigh are young. You think you have all the time there is. You do not. This life is short. You must seize it! I speak of my own regret." He reached out to take Rosa's hand. "Even though my Rosa and I were in love, I waited to marry her. Two years I spent before we are married. Those years will not return, and will never come again. Your circumstance may not permit, but if it does, do not let this year go by apart."

Carlos and Rosa shared a look that communicated volumes to each other, but was a mystery to others. Rosa stood and beckoned Carlos to follow. "My Carlos is a romantic, and he wants everyone to be as happy as we are. Do not pay him too much attention!" Hayleigh and Rosa exchanged another of those girl-hugs, and I shook Carlos's hand yet again.

"Thank you for your advice," I told him. "I will consider it. And congratulations again on the next addition to your family." Carlos was beaming when they departed. Hayleigh was deep in thought.

"We might have dug ourselves into a hole with our backstory," she mused. "Everyone thinks were quasi-engaged, and who can blame them? When you think about it, this is an unusual trip for a couple that's only Friends With Benefits. Great benefits, but still!"

"Yeah, but the truth is so absurd that not even Lifetime or Hallmark would OK this script. I couldn't make this one up if I tried."

"And yet, here we are," she observed with a wry smile. "Let's go get fixed up so we don't miss any of the dancing! You have no idea how much I'm loving this, and I don't want to miss a minute of it!"

It didn't take us long to get ourselves ready. Most of the delay was Hayleigh admiring her pendant and giving me contemplative looks. We arrived back on the main deck just minutes before the band started its opening number. It was a horn-based arrangement of the theme from the movie Ice Castles, with a glorious trumpet solo to open the number, joined in steps by the two saxophones and the trombone. I took Hayleigh's hand and led her to the floor.

The evening progressed much like the one before, except with live music that bucked the romance level up twofold for me. Over the course of the evening they played all of the standards. Brian, Kellie, Hayleigh, and I swapped dance partners for an outstanding cover of Les Brown's I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, but Hayleigh insisted that I dance with her for an arrangement of Unforgettablethat featured an exquisite saxophone solo.

Tahj played recordings during the band's breaks. As tired as we were getting, Hayleigh and I simultaneously popped out of our chairs when Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight wafted out. The closing number was a killer copy of Diana Krall's cover of Let's Fall In Love. I'm not sure if Hayleigh and I were melting into each other or collapsing into each other. We said our good-nights to everyone and dragged ourselves to our stateroom. We flopped onto the bed as soon as the door closed.

"I have to move or I'm going to fall asleep in this dress," she mumbled. "I had grand plans to ravish you, but it looks like you'll have to do the ravishing and I'll be the ravishee."

I chuckled. "I think we're both too beat to play tonight. Would you be OK if we just snuggled?"

"I'm always OK with snuggling, silly. But I want us to go commando. I want at least to feel those naked boy bits against me until I can make use of them in the morning."

We overcame inertia enough to get out off the bed and get ready to turn in. Hayleigh toyed with sleeping with her pendant on, but didn't want to risk breaking the fine links of the necklace. We eased into the bed and of course took our favorite sleeping positions after I doused the light.

"Goodnight, Tom."

Something was off in her voice. "You alright?"

"I'm wonderful, really, I'm beyond wonderful. I'm on Cloud Nine. This is probably one of the most romantic nights that I will ever have in my entire life," she said in the dark. "But I'm also a tiny bit sad that our fantasy time together is about to end."

I knew that feeling all too well. "It doesn't have to end, does it?"

"Afraid so. I don't think we can stay cocooned here in Nassau on casino winnings."

"No, that wouldn't be our best plan."

Hayleigh drew away from me and lifted her head from my shoulder. In the darkness I saw her wipe at her eyes.

"I didn't think we had a plan, other than to have fun together for a week. And on Monday it's over."

It was way past time to man up. No more kicking the can down the road. Besides, if Danni was right, Hayleigh knew already what I was going to say.

"Hayleigh, I'm more than smitten with you. I'd like to keep seeing you. I'd really, really like to. If you're willing."

A long, unbearable silence. My heart pounded, figuratively and literally. So much for my silly mind-movie where she squealed with joy and professed her undying love and affection. I was so busy letting myself fall for her that I hadn't seriously considered the possibility that, despite all of the flirting and innuendo, all of the raw sex and lovemaking, her feelings wouldn't be the same as mine. That she would want to say we've had our fun and go back to our previous lives. Or that she really liked me, but after spending a week together, she's decided not that much or quite that way. Or that a long-distance relationship would be too tough. Suddenly those possibilities stared me in the face. I physically felt my panic rising.

"Tom, I want to keep seeing you, too. But I need more than just hooking up and sneaking around behind my parents' backs until we go our separate ways when school starts. I'm just going to say it. I love you to death, Caveman, and my heart couldn't take that. It can hardly stand this."

I turned on the night table lamp back on. It wasn't a conversation I wanted to have in the dark. Hayleigh looked away from me, I think to hide a spate of tears. Suddenly self-conscious about being naked, she pulled the bedsheet up to cover her bared chest. She looked at me full of apprehension. Here goes, I told myself as I took her hand and intertwined our fingers.

"You don't understand, Hay. I've fallen in love with you. Hopelessly. Head over heels. I adore you. I cherish you. You have me, heart, mind, body, and soul. I can't decide whether the best part of a day is falling asleep with you cuddled up next to me, or waking up next to you in the morning. Just talking with you about nothing at all makes me happy. The slightest touch from you makes my heart beat faster. And making love with you, I can't put that feeling into words. If someone asked me to describe my perfect companion, she's you. I've dreaded the end of this trip, and the possibility of not having you in my life absolutely scares the living crap out of me. I desperately want you by my side. All of my life. There it is. That simple."

I braced myself for Hayleigh to tell me that although she really cared for me, she wasn't ready for that kind of a relationship. Or that I was rebounding, and what I thought was love would fade once I got my bearings and fully got over Jennifer. Every bad outcome paraded through my mind in a matter of seconds.

"I want that so much!" she exclaimed. "Problem is, I cheated."

Cheated? What the hell did that mean? I forced myself to be calm. "You cheated? How?"

She sniffled again before speaking in a rushed cascade of words that tumbled one over the other.

"Ooops, cheated was a really bad choice of words. I warned you, Tom. I play dirty. Way back after you escorted me to that sorority ball, I fantasized that if you and Jennifer broke up then maybe I could have a shot. But I gave up on us ever being a couple when you got engaged. Then things blew up at the wedding, and you made that stupid offer to take me here with you. Don't make that face! It was uber-stupid and you know it!"

"Anyway, I didn't think you were serious about me joining you on this trip. I mean, you couldn't have been. You obviously were messing with my father. But the more I thought about it, I decided it would be my best chance for us to get together. So, I called you to find out if you really meant it when you offered to take me with you in Jennifer's place. I was ready to burn all of my bridges with my parents and Jennifer to pull it off. Are you upset with me yet?"

"Nope, not upset at all. I was surprised as hell when you called though, and I was astounded when you agreed to go. But why didn't you wait until things settled down and then call me to see if I was interested in going out with you? I would have, you know."

"I couldn't take that chance by waiting. After the wedding fiasco you might have decided that you didn't want to have anything to do with anyone in my family, including me. Or you might have met someone else before I could approach you after things cooled down. And you would be headed off to law school in just a few months, and then you'd meet somebody else, and that would be that for ever and ever. I had this tiny window of opportunity. So I made my move. Fortis fortuna adiuvat, ya know?"

That made me laugh out loud. "God help me, I got played by a blonde who speaks Latin! Yes, fortune does favor the bold."

Hayleigh was laughing a little bit now too, to my relief. "There's a lot of Latin in medicine and nursing, so I decided to take Latin 101 as an elective last year, just for the heck of it. That sounded more interesting than the other options. And now I've put it to practical use," she said with a self-satisfied smirk.

That left a big question hanging. "So, your plan was to be my dream girlfriend for a week in a Caribbean paradise, give me all the sex I could handle, and hope that I fell for you?" The look on her face showed that my tone was a smidge sharper than I intended. She must have thought I was accusing her. That I was upset. God knows, I wasn't upset at all. I was ecstatic.

"Not exactly. You got the real Hayleigh. Well, the real Hayleigh with you. My plan was to show you how great we could be together, as a couple. There wasn't time to be subtle! And I had to find out if the real Tom was anything like the boyfriend-Tom I fantasized about. If you were a jerk, it would show in a week together. Just so you know, it would have been a lot easier for me if you had turned out to be a jerk, because then I move go on with my life finally knowing that you weren't The One."

That revelation threw me for another loop. We were both wondering the same thing! It must have shown in my face.

"What's wrong?" she asked timidly. "Are you finally upset with me?"

"Not even a little. You probably won't believe this, but one of the reasons that I wanted so much for you to go on this trip was that I didn't want to go through my life always wondering what might have happened if we gave things a shot. I loved your sister, no way around that. But I've had a simmering crush on you almost since we met. Honest. I compartmentalized it and friend-zoned you as best I could when Jennifer and I moved from dating to exclusive. But I could only do so much. It always nagged at me in the back of my mind how great we got along when we were up at the lake house. I felt guilty about yakking with you until three or four in the morning, but not guilty enough to stop. So when you agreed to go on this trip I leapt at a chance that would never come around again. Carpe Hayleigh."

She laughed out loud. "Oh gawd! Carpe Hayleigh? You're worse than I am!" A renewed Hayleigh sparkle punched through. As corny as it sounds, my heart soared. But I still had questions.

"Can I ask you something? Please tell me the absolute truth."

"Ask me anything."

"The horny girlfriend thing. Was that the real you, or were you just trying to shore up my tattered ego, or something like that? I won't be upset, even if it was just to get me out of that very dark place I was heading after the beating my heart and ego took at the wedding, but I'd like to know the real honest-to-god truth."

"OK, Tom. The horny girlfriend thing is the real me, but only with you." She paused, pondering whether to say more. "I think there's different question weighing on your mind. You're wondering if I used sex to reel you in. But you don't want to go there because even wondering if I did that also means there's the possibility I'm a manipulative bitch who used sex to control you, like Jennifer did, except by giving you sex instead of denying it."

"Jesus, Hayleigh, no! I don't think you would manipulate me like that. It's just that... I'm ashamed to say it, but it has crossed my mind that I've been letting the sex cloud my judgment."

"Don't be ashamed, Tom. Remember, I already admitted that I gave you the full court press to show you how we could be together. Is that manipulation? I don't know! All I can say is that I didn't fake anything. It all came naturally. We're great together, in and out of bed. Well, I think we are."

"Now let me say one more thing about the physical stuff," she said with renewed vigor. "I like sex! I like it a lot, as you've found out! But I've never wanted to do with anyone else the things you and I have done. Cross my heart." Her deep emerald-green eyes locked onto mine. "You're the first man I've truly made love to. I want to do that forever with you, and only with you. I know that sounds like something out of a Harlequin bodice-ripper, but you asked for the truth, and that there is the real honest-to-god truth. There it is. That simple."

"Hay, I am definitely not fishing for compliments here, but it' really hard for me to believe that an incredible woman like you is interested in an average guy like me. In or out of bed."

"I think I understand. You're dead wrong, but I know the feeling. Hearing you tell me that you love me is something I dreamed about for years. Years, Tom. And now that you've said it, I'm afraid I'll wake up from a dream with my butt still in Wisconsin."

She leaned into me and softly pressed her lips to mine. She settled on top of me, and again we melted into each other like we had been doing that for years. We did not break our kiss until our legs and arms were fully intertwined. She playfully nipped at my nose as I stiffened against her belly, then she stretched to turn off the lamp before nestling back on top of me, cascades of her soft blonde curls falling haphazardly over my face. She nibbled on my ear, and then almost silently whispered.

"I know we were just going to snuggle, but can I have you inside me before we fall asleep? I want to feel that connection with you."

I held her face in my hands, just looking in her green eyes in the darkened room. She raised up slightly to let her hand snake between us and grasp my swelling cock, lining me up with her entrance and settling downward. I slid inside. We both sucked in our breath as we coupled.

"Don't worry about making me cum," she whispered. "It's OK if you do, but don't worry about me. I just want to be filled by you before I fall asleep. I need to feel you inside me."

She spread her legs more so that her upper thighs grasped around mine. Her toes raked up and down the length of my shins, lightly grazing my skin. She lay fully on top of me, pressing her stiff nipples into my chest. She wasn't riding me, but the sensation of her pussy clenching on my cock as she moved was blissful torture. I gently ran my palms back and forth from her neck to her butt and back again, over and over, haphazardly stopping to kneed her taut muscles.

"That's so nice," she purred into my neck. "How am I going to do without this when we get back home?"

"Maybe you could invite me over for sleepovers."

"I'm serious! I've gotten used to being intimate with you whenever I want it. And I want it pretty much all the time, as you know."

"OK, seriously then. I'm in the same boat. The sex has been insanely good. But what I'm really going to miss is just being around you. Talking with my best friend about nothing at all. Holding your hand. The lingering scent of Spring Peaches on my clothes. I mean it, Hayleigh, I'm crazy in love with you."

She worked her arms around my neck and pressed her entire length against me. "I changed my mind. Can I feel you cum in me before I fall asleep? There's nothing more physically intimate that a man cumming bareback inside his woman. Please?" She kissed me with renewed vigor, and slid her tongue into my mouth. I felt her thighs flexing rhythmically, adding to the movement of my cock inside her. It didn't take long before I was at the edge. A few thrusts later I was letting go once more into her squelching puss. She broke our kiss and bit her lower lip as she pressed her pussy down hard. She growled deeply and a splash of warm liquid bathed my groin before she fully collapsed on top of me. She pressed us more tightly together. She wanted us to stay coupled, connected. We both did.

"Sorry about that," she exhaled. "Now we have to move or sleep on a wet spot. At least once we get back home you won't have to sleep in a wet bed."

"I'll miss that, too."

"You're weird, Caveman!"

"I know what I like, Cavewoman."

"You better be sure about what you like. When my mother and I had The Talk, she told me that some women get really wet like I do. She said she did sometimes, and she didn't want me to freak out if I was like that too."

"TMI! TMI! Massive overshare!"

"Oh, stop! Anyway, a few years later I overheard the women in her Bunco group gossiping about their sex lives, which was real trippy when you're 14. Talk about TMI! Anyway, my mother said when she hit 30 her sex drive went off the charts. She said if she didn't get laid at least once every day she would climb the walls. So you're on notice. If I'm anything like my mother, and it looks like I am, about ten years from now I'm going to wear you down to a nub."

"Promises, promises."

"I'll remind you of this conversation when I'm 30 and you're telling me to stop pestering you and find a hobby."

"Never gonna happen."

"Promises promises yourself!" she chided. "Do YOU think we'll be together in 10 years?"

"I hope so. We don't know how we'll do as a couple in the real world," I mused. "Time will tell."

She kissed my cheek. "Well I already know we will be. I've known for years. We just needed a chance."

"I hope I can live up to your expectations."

"My only expectations are that you be my best friend, respect me, and be true to me. And fuck me silly."

She kissed me again before sliding off me. We settled ourselves on the other side of the bed and eased back into our favorite sleeping arrangement.

"Do you want to clean up before we fall asleep?" she asked. "We're messy again."

The last thing I wanted then was to be physically separated from her.

"I'm great just like this. How about you?"

Her answer was soft and sleepy. "This is perfect."

"I love you, Hayleigh Michelle."

"Love you more, Thomas James."

We snuggled closer and drifted off. Sleep came easily after that emotional juggernaut. The last thing I remember was listening to the soft sound of her breathing and the feel of her heart beating against my side. It was the biggest heart in the world.

~~~ SATURDAY ~~~

We were awakened by the sun blazing through the shades that covered the portholes. We were in almost the same position as we when we fell asleep. I felt Hayleigh's toes gliding along my shin, then her fingers caressing the side of my face. I turned to kiss her forehead and pulled her to me.

"You know we both messed up," she announced. "You're supposed to tell me that you love me to seduce me, and I'm not supposed to give it up until after you say it."

"Why would I want to do something normal in our relationship? That would mess up our perfect score."

"I'm not complaining. I have my Caveman. Unless you've changed your mind about me."

"Not a chance! My father is going to think I've lost my mind though. And your family, that's going to be hellish."

"Don't worry about your father. He doesn't stand a chance against me, your mom, and Danni. My parents on the other hand, that's going to be an epic challenge. Then there's Jennifer. She's my sister, Tom. We can't shut her out forever, but she doesn't like either of us very much right now."

"I know. Can I make a suggestion? Let's not worry about all of that right now. We have the rest of today and tomorrow before we fly back Monday. Let's make the most of it."

"Deal!" she exclaimed. "I propose that we spend our last hours visiting with our new sailing friends before the final luncheon, and when we get back to that huge bed at the resort we spend the afternoon tearing up the sheets."

"Your proposal is acceptable."

"Oh, 'acceptable'! You ARE tiring with my female charms," she teased. Something in my face gave her pause. "Tom, is something wrong?"

"Not at all, Hay." We disengaged so we could lie facing each other on the bed. "I'm not taking back anything I said last night. Not a single thing. But there's something I think I need to explain better. Her face was full of apprehension, despite my efforts to sound at ease.

"You know that I love how we are when we're being intimate. I'm not going to pretend that the sex part of our relationship isn't hugely important to me. That pesky Y chromosome never sleeps."

Hayleigh nodded her understanding. "That pair of Xs I carry around isn't exactly indifferent. If it's worse for guys I don't know how you manage to function! Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt." She kissed my cheek before I continued.

"What I'm trying to tell you, in my stumbling way, is that I love all of you. Do you remember a few days ago when I was saying how maybe I wasn't a 'parts' guy, that maybe I was a Hayleigh guy?" She nodded. "Turns out that's absolutely true. I love your brains as much as your boobs, Cavewoman, and you know how much I like those perfect boobs. It's like my previous romantic relationships were in black and white, and for the first time things are in color. That's what's going on in my head."

She threw her arms around my neck and nearly choked me out again. "That's one of the sweetest things you could have said to me, Tom. I get so tired of guys who think that because I'm a decent looking blonde that I'm brainless. You really listen when I talk to you. Know what else?" she whispered in my ear. "When we get back to the resort I AM going to rock your world!"

"I'm gonna butter your muffin," I said, returning serve.

"Gonna roast your chestnuts."

"Gonna polish your apples."

"Gonna steam your clams." She giggled. "I thought it might be better to wait until we had that big bed again to play in and some privacy in case I get noisy, but we don't have to wait if I got you worked up."

I pondered. "Let's spend some time with our new friends while we can, especially Carlos and Rosa. Better save your strength for this afternoon though."

"Promises, promises!"

We made ourselves presentable and headed to the main deck. We joined Carlos, Rosa, Brian, and Kellie on the forward deck and soaked in the sun while we chatted about our homes and families. We exchanged contact information before we said our final farewells, and promised to keep in touch now and then about our lives. I doubted that those promises would last for long, though I entertained the possibility that somehow our new friends would be able to witness Hayleigh and me tie that knot Kellie brought up two evenings ago. It almost escaped my notice that I regarding marrying Hayleigh as the inevitable progression of our relationship. Never mind that less than a week ago I almost married her sister. This was so fucked up, but in a good way.

We packed up and boarded the tender that ferried us to Nassau. Before we left we gave the Ruby Scepter's captain a healthy tip to be distributed among the crew. It wasn't protocol, but we slipped Tahj a little more on the side. He'd more than earned it.

The trip back ashore took a while, and we nearly dozed off in the warm sun. We both needed to recharge our batteries. When we got back to the beach house we flopped together onto the bed, not even bothering to unpack. For the next few hours we snuggled, drifting in and out of sleep without care.

"I'm dropping ball on being your insatiable girlfriend," she mused during a woken interlude. "I said I'd rock your world when we got back to this big bed, but I fizzled out on you. I'm sorry."

"I'm no better, leaving your muffin unbuttered. It's all good, nothing at all to be sorry about. This right here rocks my world."

"You're always going to be a cornball, aren't you?" she remarked happily. "I think maybe my pet name for you should be Hallmark, but I like Caveman better."

"I like Caveman, too. Makes me sound like a manly-man!"

She rolled her eyes. "Goof!"

I leaned into her, nuzzling into her neck and planting light kisses on the tender skin behind her ears. 'Gawd, do you have any idea how wet I get when you do that?" She turned her head sideways to give me better access. We slowly undressed each other, making slow-burning, gentle love. We didn't bother with getting a towel, so the bedsheet paid a heavy price. We silently reveled in our extended after-play until Hayleigh suddenly hugged herself tightly to me.

"How did you know?" she asked with bemusement.

"How did I know what?"

"That I wanted to be loved instead of fucked? Back on the boat I told you that we were going to rip up this big bed and that I might get loud, but by the time we actually got to it, I wanted slow and loving. So how did you know?"

"I didn't know. It just seemed right, so that's what I did. And you still rocked my little world."

"If we're this in tune after a week, it scares me what a year will be like."

We decided to take a lazy bath together and then head out exploring to find a different place to have our dinner. I was never much of a bath person, but they were growing on me. A taxi deposited us in a part of town known for hole-in-the-wall cafes and bistros, where we found little place that featured homestyle dishes and local musical talent. It was a perfect spot to kill off a bottle of wine with dinner and chat afterward. Most of our conversation centered on my revised plans for housing now that Jennifer wasn't going to be around. The original plan was classic. Jennifer would work to support us while I was in law school, and then after I got my J. D. and a full time job we'd decide when to start a family. I should say, that was MY plan. Obviously Jennifer's plan was different. I imagined Jennifer's plan included clueless me unknowingly raising David's kid or who knows who else's. Hayleigh was worried about how I'd manage with the changed situation.

"So how's it going to work out now? Won't your budget be overstretched?" Hayleigh was concerned.

"I think I'll be fine. Remember, I wasn't planning on working this summer, but now I will be able to work for Angel's father until school starts, so I can bank that money. I can live very cheaply. I can get a roomie to share expenses. Then there's taking out some student loans if I need to. I've run the numbers and there's no need to panic. I can make it work."

I could see Hayleigh's gears turning. "WE can make it work. We're going to think this through and come up with a plan. That's what you get for finally admitting that you're in love with me. Now you're stuck with me and my need to fix things."

We killed off another half-bottle of a local after dinner wine while talking about Hayleigh's living arrangements when we got back to Wisconsin. She remained adamant that she wasn't going to live at home if her father continued to give her grief about our trip or seeing me. "I have an idea that will fix the problem with my parents, but you'll have to trust me. Really trust me." After everything that had happened, how could I refuse?

We didn't get back to the resort until just before midnight. Hayleigh remarked that we still hadn't broken in the hot tub that was on the deck, a hint as subtle as a sonic boom. "You still haven't seen my new swimsuit that I chickened out on wearing. Get ready for the big reveal!" She asked me to get the tub started so the water would warm up, and she'd meet me outside after she changed.

I was sitting on the ledge of the hot tub with my feet in the water when she came outside. I understood why she chickened out. It was a two-piece, if you could call the shreds of fabric a piece. The top couldn't have had more than six square inches of almost translucent material total, connected by straps no thicker than a pencil lead. It barely covered her smallish nips. The bottom was about the same. A wispy filament held the micro-thong in place, not quite covering her pussy lips as she stood. I intentionally made a wide-eyed gawk.

"Holy crap, that must be from the 'Why Bother' collection!" I said as I chuckled.

"I know!" she laughed with me. "I can't tell you what I was thinking when I bought it. I'm so close to being buck naked that it was a complete waste of money. I suppose I thought the overall effect would distract you from noticing my relative boob deficit." I gave her my best "your tits are great" look.

"At least I understand why you decided not to wear it on the boat! No secrets left after being seen it that."

"True, but there was another reason I decided not to wear it." She climbed up onto the hot tub to sit on the ledge opposite me and dangle her legs in the quickly warming water, as I was.

"So last year some of us were talking with an exchange student who always wore head coverings and stuff like that when she was out in public where guys could see her. We talked about how different cultures and religions viewed modesty and what is considered appropriate. She said that in her culture, her body was something reserved for her future husband's eyes, just as his junk would be only for her eyes. It was something that they would share only with each other. I'm not explaining this very well at all, am I? Anyway, it wasn't just that this swimsuit crossed a line that I decided not to cross because it showed too much. It's that I decided that what you can see right now is for YOUR eyes alone." She looked at me intently, waiting for a reaction.

"Hayleigh, I think I get what you're saying. It's a little like how I won't talk with anyone about what we do with each other in bed, right? It's strictly between us alone."

Hayleigh nodded enthusiastically. "That's right. Can I make another confession? I don't think you'll be upset, but please hear me out before you decide anything, OK?" I nodded, but my radar went live. Was another shoe going to drop? Hayleigh took a deep breath.

"So, last week right after I agreed to go on this trip with you, I got thinking about how you were worried that maybe it was a setup to get revenge on Jennifer's behalf or my family's, or whatever. And I totally understand why you would be worried about that. Jennifer had just stabbed you in the back in the worst ways, and you didn't have a good reason to trust me and lots of reasons not to. So I got Steve's and Angel's numbers from Danni, and called them."

Now she really had my attention. Why hadn't they told me about that???

"And now you're wondering why you're just hearing about this for the first time. Don't blame them, that was my doing. I assumed you would talk about our trip with them, and it occurred to me that they might talk you out of going, or try to. It took some time, but I was able to convince them of my good intentions. They both agreed not to interfere, but warned me that there would be consequences if I intentionally hurt you. You have two genuine friends, Tom."

"Why not let them tell me that you had talked, and let them reassure me?"

"Because I wanted you to make your decisions about me and about us on your own, without them influencing you. I couldn't do much about Danni though," she said, stating the obvious, "but I know she wants us to be happy however it ended up."

It took me a while to assimilate this new info. I was going to have a serious talk with my friends over a few beers. I would be buying.

"This is interesting, Hay, and I'm glad you told me. But what does this have to do with your swimsuit?"

"Nothing about the suit. It's about your night of debauchery at your bachelor party."

Debauchery? What the hell was she talking about? Four guys playing basement billiards and not even getting drunk was almost embarrassingly boring.

"You should see your face!" she exclaimed. "Steve told me about how you turned down going to a topless bar out of respect for Jennifer, and because you would know that you did it even if she never found out about it."

"I guess that's true, but why is that important?"

"You don't see it, you dope?" She scooted over to sit next to me and took my hands in hers. "It wasn't because you thought you might get caught that you passed on going to a topless bar. You didn't go because you thought it would have been wrong and disrespectful. You didn't go because not going was the right thing. Do you know how big that is to me? That told me that you're the sort of guy who won't fool around behind my back for the simple reason that cheating is wrong. You could have spent the night having some big-boobed stripper rubbing on you and letting you rub on her, and then tossed out that 'it was just fooling around at my bachelor party and it didn't mean anything' bullshit excuse. But instead you turned down peer pressure from Steve and said 'No'. That's the guy I want to spend my life with."

Let me tell you, it did my ego good to soak in all that praise, but I felt it was undeserved.

"Hay, I'm glad you hold me in such high regard, but trust me, I'm not Saint Thomas the Pure. I do notice other women, and sometimes I check them out, I hope not in a way that they notice or makes anyone uncomfortable. But I have taken a glances and enjoyed the view, and it's going to happen in the future. I'm a guy. It's the way we're wired."

"I know that, Tom, and I don't expect you to walk around with blinders on. I'm no different, I notice hot guys, but there's no 'oh-my-god-I-have-to-have-him' going on. Emotional cheating on you is just out of the question for me too, I swear. I require the same from you. I'm one hundred per cent 'one and done.' The day you cheat on me is the day we are OVER. If you want to see someone else, tell me first. It would shatter my heart to lose you, but finding out you were doing stuff behind my back would end me."

"I could never do that to my best friend, Hay. I love you so much it hurts. Losing you that way would end me, too. We're in complete agreement about cheating. It's my absolute do not cross red line. No second chances. I won't live looking over my shoulder, wondering if my girl will cross the line again. I need the peace of mind that comes with trust. Does that make me a controlling a-hole?"

"No baby, it makes us two people who understand each other and feel the very same way about the something that rips up relationships all the damn time. My mom always told me and Jennifer that worthwhile relationships take hard work. Tom, I'll work myself to death for us." I felt relief wash over me. We might just pull this thing off.

"I will, too. My folks have had a few bumps over the years. But Danni and I talked about how they worked together to get past the bumps. I pondered about what was said over the past ten minutes. "I didn't much enjoy this discussion, Hay, but as uncomfortable as it was, I'm glad we had it. We needed to have it."

"Yes, we did. Know why I know we're going to make it? It's not only that we agree on the important things, it's that we agree on what the important things are." She gave my another one of her smirky smiles. "That, and we already have pet nicknames for each other. How can we fail?"

Hayleigh slid off the ledge and stood in front of me in the roiling hot tub water. "Now I have another very important question for you," she said as she crossed her arms in front of her. "How is it that I'm standing here in this ridiculous excuse for a swimsuit with my girl bits on display for you, and you aren't fucking my brains out?"

She slipped her top off, revealing two very erect nips, and tossed the top over her shoulder to land on a lounger. I hopped off the ledge and into the now-hot water, and lifted her by the buns into my chest. She wrapped her crossed legs behind my back and held onto my neck as I walked to the side of the hot tub to set her tush on the far ledge. The dental floss that was supposed to cover her pussy had wedged itself between her splayed-open lips. But instead of stepping out of my board shorts to enter her, I knelt down between her legs and kissed my way from her knees to her swollen lips. Hayleigh's head lolled backwards as a dreamy look fell over her face.

"If Denise and Robert are still here, they're gonna know we're back! I can already feel myself working up a good one."

"Good! You need to loosen up a little, Hay. So far you've been so shy with me." Before she could say anything I slowly dragged my tongue drag from her taint up to her button, causing her to clamp her thighs against the sides of my head. I teased and edged her toward her release. She finally succumbed when I slid two fingers inside to massage her G-spot. She yelped as a torrent of liquid poured out. I kept curling my fingers while gently lashing her button with the tip of my tongue. Her tummy muscles jerked and rippled as even more liquid coated my hand. She finally reached a saturation point, and gently pushed my face away.

"I can't take any more! Overload!" she panted. She slid off the ledge and sat on one of the submerged benches while she got me out of my board shorts. Moments later her mouth engulfed me. "I love doing this for you!" she said between tongue caresses. "I want to make this last, but let me know if you get uncomfortable and need to finish." She resumed her oral ministrations. I didn't last long. After I recovered we sat I sat on the underwater seat so that I faced the beach, and she settled on top of me, so that I was spooning her. We watched the waves while haphazardly petting each other.

I noticed that Hayleigh had set our cell phones on a small table next to the hot tub. "Want to have some fun? I asked.

"More fun than what we just did? Good luck with that!"

I handed Hayleigh her cell phone. "Here, I think you'll need this." Using my phone I texted Danni "I told her" and added several thumbs-up emojis. Mere moments after the messaging app reported "read" Hayleigh's cell rang. Even without the phone on speaker I could hear Danni's trademark theatrics. Something about how "it took him long enough!" They went on excitedly for a while, before Hayleigh said, "I'll ask him."

"Danni wants to know if she can tell anyone about our officially becoming a couple. What do you think?"

"If my matchmaker sister can keep from imploding, I think it would be better for the two of us to tell my folks about it together after we get back. My dad is still going to need some convincing to get comfortable with this. I'd like Danni there for that though. What do YOU think?"

She nodded eagerly. "We'd like to spring it on your parents after we get back," she told Danni. "We could use reinforcements when we do though," she explained.

There was more chatter, until Hayleigh told Danni that we were in a hot tub and starting to turn into prunes. "Thanks, Dee! See you then!" Hayleigh said as she ended the call.

"That was fun! Danni is going to meet us at the airport and get me home. Our news really has her giddy. She might need a sedative to get through the next few days. Oh, she also said that hot tub nookie is too cliche', but she's still jealous."

"Jealous? You should have reminded her that incest is illegal."

Hayleigh was confused for a moment, and then it hit her. "Hey, pig, maybe she's jealous of you, not me," she said and snorted.

"I don't know whether to say 'ewwww' or to ask if I can watch," I deadpanned.

"You ARE a pig!" she giggled. "And I really am turning into a prune. Let's go inside and really give her something to be jealous about."

We abandoned the hot tub and took a quick shower to wash off the heavily-treated hot tub water and did the usual getting ready for bed stuff. I wondered if we were going to turn instead until Hayleigh pulled back the sheets over half the monster bed and covered a smaller area with every bath towel we had left. I don't know what was going on with her, but she really was insatiable. Not that I minded! The last thing I remembered before drifting off after a good hour of inspired playtime was spooning while still buried inside, with Hayleigh clutching my forearm tightly between her tits.

~~~@~~~@~~~

That's it for Part 7. Part 8 will pick up later on Sunday morning and carry through to the trip back home and arrival on Monday. Apologies again for the long delay in publishing this part. To those who have followed me after my first submission, V is for Victory-Not!, and this series, thank you all for your generous words and support, for your thoughtful critiques, and for your patience.